Warning: The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at Dartford is expected to close this morning (Image: PA)

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The Highways Agency has warned that both Severn crossings, the M48 and M4, will be closed in both directions for several hours.

Road users in the South East meanwhile have be told that the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, which forms part of the Dartford River Crossing between Essex and Kent, is expected to close in the very early hours of this morning.

The tunnel crossings are expected to remain open however.

The QEII bridge is expected to close some time between midnight and 3am.

Thousands of motorists use the three bridges each day, so rush hour tailbacks are likely.

The Highways Agency has also announced that the Orwell Bridge in Suffolk, which carries the A14 over the river Orwell near Ipswich, is expected to close from around 02:00 today due to the high winds.

There is a planned diversion route, via the A1156, A1189 and A1214 through Ipswich.